Leaving Bangalore...

Tomorrow I leave Bangalore for a while, I am going with the other guys to Hampi (one of the greatest temple areas in the whole of India, it is the setting for a Hindu story in which Hanuman a monkey god threw boulders onto the landscape and they still sit there all obvious and enormous today!) Anyhow, we're all getting the train 3rd class tomorrow, which means we leave Bangalore at 10:30pm and arrive in Hampi at 7:30am the following day - it's just the way it's done here, and I've still got to pack everything, buy snacks and make sure my hotels are booked for all the other interesting places I have got planned.

So it's officially my last night in Bangalore tonight, I think we're going somewhere - maybe a Salsa club or some Bollywood dance club; either way it'll be good fun but sad to leave (even if it is just for 3 weeks!)

We're going to sample the Indian Coffee Rooms at lunch today; it says the waiters are in turbans and buckled belts and that there is an aged look to the place - just hope the coffee is good and not aged! Yesterday I had a bit of a Western splurge and went to this place called Brio for a nice 3 couse lunch....the most Indian meal I've had....

Pita & Hummus + Pasta + Tiramisu with a cold Coffee (mmmmmm!) - The western splurge cost me Rs 450 though (about 5 pounds!)

Tomorrow day in between all my packing, and arranging we're going to a Tiger reserve which offers an hour safari too, it should be great fun and a nice way to finish my time in the city - by getting out of it.

Finally, I posted a box home today with all the things I have aquired in the 4 weeks I have been here, it was one of the top reasons why I hate the Indian way of doing things....here's how to post a box home to England....

1. Find a box, no where sells boxes here! I sent stuff home in a Milk Box :S
2. Fill the box, everything has to be in a plastic bag!
3. Wrap the box, the box must be wrapped in cloth and sewn closed - tailors did this for me!
4. Write on box, post office won't provide the pen, had to buy a marker and go back!
5. Customs Forms, fill in 2 customs forms (no carbon copy) and they're in French!?!
6. Post the damn thing, pay the man Rs 1500 and it takes 15 days?!

I think that's it!

Another update from Hospet (my next destination!) I think I will be sun burnt by then!

Bye!